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Marion Cockeram, general manager of facilities at Leicester Royal Infirmary, said: “Every six months the menu is updated and the new autumn and winter menu has 20 hot choices.

“Patients get the menus two hours before meal times and can choose what they want. As well as the main menu there are many other options for people with special requirements, allergies, gastro problems and people about to go into surgery.”

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The refrigerated Steamplicity meals are wheeled up to the ward kitchens in big cool boxes and cooked in microwaves.

But by cooking them in special sealed containers the raw ingredients are actually pressure steamed, rather than being just microwaved. Each sealed dish has a valve on the top like a pressure cooker to regulate the cooking and the cooked dish is then placed on a plate and served.

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Ahead of the launch of the new menu, the Mercury was invited to sample five of the main course dishes, including the new ones, and these are our verdicts:

Cheese and Potato Pie:

The new cheese and potato pie

Served with baked beans and a slightly dry and tasteless mash, the pie is the most impressive of the two new dishes and it’s very hard to believe it’s been steamed.

The cheesy insides are creamy and delicious and the thick pie crust means it stays piping hot.

Chicken Tikka Masala:

The fact it’s been steamed might put off curry connoisseurs but this chicken dish is smooth and delicious with a nice hint of spiciness.

The yellow rice is well cooked and the dish also comes with onion bhajis.

Lamb and Lentil Stew:

Lamb and lentil stew

Served with a mix of green veg, the lamb and lentil stew is good comfort food for people who don’t want a big flavour hit.

The lamb is so tender it falls apart in your mouth, although some of the greens are a bit harder than some people might like.

Beef Lasagne:

While steamed lasagne can never have the perfect crunchy cheese top, this lasagne packs all the flavour you would expect, with rich tomato and béchamel sauce. The dish is served with peas.

Steamed Salmon with Hollandaise Sauce:

The Steamplicty cooking system seems to be perfect for steaming this dish and the fish and the potatoes are cooked to perfection. The Hollandaise sauce provides another dimension of flavour and it all looks great on the plate.